Head gasket blown, bad cat, etc.,etc...

[AlexaG.]

Just got the truck a month ago and got the good news today. Check engine light was on pulling a P0420 and the VSC Trac lights were on as well. Anyone else experience this? 140,000 miles. I haven't even made my first payment on the damn thing. Total cost of repair is $4889.35. What to do? Please any advice will be good advice. I had the vehicle inspected before I bought it and it was given a clean bill. Does a blown head gasket happen overnight? This car blew two #5 coil packs before I bought it and I just replaced it again. Thanks!

 

[jzme]

If you bought the truck at a dealership id take it back to them and see what they say. if it was a private sale you may be screwed

 

[CAN-03runner]

Who is telling you that these things have failed, and how are they justifying it, meaning what are they using as an indicator to point to a blown head gasket and faulty cat, and etc...etc...

I suppose whoever sold the truck could have weazled you, by cleaning up the engine, changing the oil, changing the coolant so it all looks clean, and if a slow leak then maybe it would have taken more than just a test drive for coolant to show up in the oil, or for oil to show up in the coolant.

It would be horrible bad luck if it passed an inspection yesterday, and then today it has blown gasket.

But for the exhaust issue..Where the exhaust pipes connect there is a seal, a leak can occur when that seal goes bad, and can have the 0420 can manifest. 17410B in the picture/link is one of the seals I'm describing. They are very cheap. Before you change out large parts of the exhaust try changing those first. When the exhaust is changed, the seal also gets changed, problem gets fixed, but what actually fixed it...1$ seal or 1000$ exhaust parts. If it doesn't work you only spent a few $ more, to test, but could be huge savings if it works.
EXHAUST PIPE. Fits: 2003 TOYOTA 4Runner SR-5 4700CC 32-VALVE DOHC EFI, AUTOMATIC 5-SPEED | Village Toyota Parts

You could also just try erasing that 0420 with an ODBII scanner and see how long it takes to come back. I think disconnecting the battery for several minutes does the same??

It might also just go away on its own, after x number of starts or miles where that error doesn't occur. I know I've cleared it, and it took many weeks of driving before it came back. And I've also had it on for a few days, before I got a chance to clear it, but then it just went away on it's own.

 

[CXS]

Why do you think the head gasket has blown? What do you see on the dipstick? Have you looked at the oil or are you trusting someone else?

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I can't say if the headgaskets are really blown on your vehicle. I would need to see what testing they did to verify that there is indeed coolant in the cylinders and its coming from the headgasket. It could kill the #5 ignition coil and set a P0420 as a result of a blown head gasket. But you'd see things like low coolant, steam/smoke from the tail pipe, poor idle/poor engine performance, ect.

We really need more information and history on the vehicle, is this a V6 or V8? What model year is this? Ect.

 

[TFJ-4runner]

Just got the truck a month ago and got the good news today. Check engine light was on pulling a P0420 and the VSC Trac lights were on as well. Anyone else experience this? 140,000 miles. I haven't even made my first payment on the damn thing. Total cost of repair is $4889.35. What to do? Please any advice will be good advice. I had the vehicle inspected before I bought it and it was given a clean bill. Does a blown head gasket happen overnight? This car blew two #5 coil packs before I bought it and I just replaced it again. Thanks!

Where did you take it to get looked at? I'm in Newnan often and have plenty of 4runner friends in the area who could help.

 

[03L4RUNNER]

If it helps any, I trip a PO420 every day and just reset it with my scan gauge. But the cause of my code is because I removed the back two cats fwiw

 

[zonianbrat]

Listen to what people on here have said. You might need a second opinion. If in fact these things are indeed wrong then I'd try to take it back to the dealer. If it was a private seller then you might have been taken and I am sorry. but before you drop that kind of cash I'd just put in a new or rebuilt motor. Bet you could find one at a decent price. Then TFJ said he knows some toyota people so maybe someone could help you install it. I hope it all works out and keep us updated.

 

[AlexaG.]

Thanks everyone!

Thanks everyone! I am looking to get a second opinion. I noticed a water rushing sound but only when I accelerated from a dead stop. I heard it when I bought it but it wasn't as pronounced. This is one of the reasons I took it in. I thought it might be air in the lines. I have cleared the engine code a few times but it comes back after driving about 30 miles. I am not sure how he determined the head gasket. I haven't seen any smoke from the exhaust and it really hasn't been running bad. A little rough on the start but that just started. I am prepared to put a couple thousand into it but that's it. So, I am off today to get a second. I have been advised not to drive it. Thoughts on this anyone? I did buy it from a private owner so I am screwed in that respect. However, I did pay $100 for a vehicle inspection. Is this something that they should have noticed?

 

[AlexaG.]

Thanks TFJ. I would love some help with this. It's hard doing this alone. I was told to get a second from Theo's in PTC. Also, thanks CAN for the info about the exhaust seal. I am going to print that out!

 

[AlexaG.]

V6 140,000 miles

It's a V6. 140,000 miles. I have some service records that came with the car. Coil pack #5 was replaced twice last year. Coil pack #2 was replaced in November. It appears it was pulling a cat code then. I didn't get these records until he turned over the keys. Maybe the guy did know but the mechanic that inspected it that had done the work should have been suspect of the #5 coil pack blowing twice.

 

[AlexaG.]

I talked to the kid that inspected the vehicle. He said my coolant was just a little low and it was not mixing. Good news.

 

[TRDCal]

A little rough on the start but that just started

my coolant was just a little low

Hate to give you bad news but these two things combined with the P0420 code are definite signs of a bad head gasket. I wouldn't would replace the gasket and the cats at the same time. Do one first and see what happens.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I agree with TRD, those symptoms add up most likely to a leaking gasket. Speaking of which! I actually had written up a little section because of this thread in regards to diagnostics and repairs for head gaskets!

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/132953-toolbox-how-use.html

I also threw down what I would recommend as proper repair for the vehicle, in your case it doesn't sound like you've been driving it a lot and that the coolant consumption is that bad so you might be able to forgo replacing the AFR/O2 Sensors.

 

[AlexaG.]

Sealant to fix the leak?

Second opinion reveals there is a small leak in the gasket but may be able to be fixed with a sealant to stop the leak. Cat is definitely bad but replacing that along with the O2 sensors will get my engine light off so that I can pass emissions. The bad cat was a result of me driving it while it misfired. I was told it is ok to drive that there was only a small amount of carbon dioxide in coolant. So now, any thought on the success of a sealant to fix the leak?

 

[chmura]

The stop head gasket leak is temporary solution not a permanent. I do not believe in that stuff.

Cheapest option would be is buy a used low mileage engine and drop it in there and be worry free for $100k+ miles.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

How is that the cheapest option? If the block hasn't overheated, then he can just get new gaskets and do some high mileage maintence on the vehicle while he's at it. I don't see the need to out right replace the entire engine when it isn't bad.

I do agree that radiator stop leak is more of a temporary solution than anything.

 

[chmura]

How is that the cheapest option? If the block hasn't overheated, then he can just get new gaskets and do some high mileage maintence on the vehicle while he's at it. I don't see the need to out right replace the entire engine when it isn't bad.

I do agree that radiator stop leak is more of a temporary solution than anything.

I believe doing a head replacement on this vehicle would be $2500+ at least. Lots of labor involed, have to take heads to machine shop, etc. When it's all done you will have a block with 100k+ miles.

I'm sure you can find a much lower mileage motor for around the same price. Labor for direct engine swap shouldn't be more than $700.

I would check both options and see what is better and works best. If I can find a 30k mile motor and it costs $500 more than a head rebuild I would pick the used motor option.

 

[AlexaG.]

Thanks Gentleman!

Thank you everyone that have posted! I am so thankful for your insight and opinions. Invaluable information that I can carry with me as I deal with this crisis. I am just a chick that loves 4Runners and thought that it would be a no brainer buying another one. I know nothing about cars but just try to arm myself with as much info as I can. I now know that the sealer is a temporary fix. Where could I look for a new engine? I may lean toward that or just try to sell it. Anyone interested? The interior/exterior in pristine condition. Thanks again guys!

 

[YotaDriver]

There's no way the previous owner wasn't well aware of the problems his truck was having, he was just more comfortable pawning it off on an unsuspecting car buyer than paying to fix it himself.

First thing you need to do is contact the previous owner and find out what he knew and when he knew it. Next, I'd follow up with the shops that replaced the coil packs previously to find out what they told the previous owner about the problem. If he knew the truck was broken and sold it anyway, you can sue him for damages.

My point here is that the guy sold you a bill of goods and he knew it. You shouldn't be on the hook for all these expenses.